Located close to beloved neighborhoods like Capitol Hill and U Street. Luxury community offers 24-hour concierge, pool, game room and media room. Apartments have in-unit laundry, granite counters and dishwasher.

Located on the Maryland/D.C. border, within the I-495 Beltway. Modern building with rooftop pool, communal gaming areas, fitness and yoga studios, bike storage. Studio, one- and two-bedroom units with washer, dryer and stainless steel appliances.

Boasting a rooftop infinity pool and a Washington, D.C. zip code, the City Market at O Street spells upscale living like nowhere else. Eminently pet-friendly, it has an onsite dog park and 24-hour concierge.

Within proximity to the International Spy Museum, I-395 and the Washington Monument. Community features include valet dry cleaning and professional concierge service. Units feature spacious walk-in closets and designer kitchens with ceramic tile.

Modern, sleek community in the Yards neighborhood. Interiors feature windows to let in plenty of light and stainless-steel appliances. The River Trail is in your backyard, with the Nationals Stadium and the Metro Station nearby.

High-rise with high style. Amazing rooftop deck with pool and panoramic views. Easy access to major freeways and upscale amenities that include a bocce court and yoga. Green community features and elegant interiors.

Contemporary design with every convenience, featuring high-end finishes and European wide-plank flooring. Spacious layout with ample storage. On-site amenities include a rooftop terrace and yoga studio. Located in a vibrant new community.

Surrounded by large trees, parks, and eateries, just moments from Van Ness Metro. Generously sized units include a fireplace, hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances, air conditioning, a patio, and much more. Tranquil, convenient neighborhood.

Located in Chinatown near parks, the National Museum of Women in the Arts, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. Pool, media room and clubhouse. 24-hour concierge. Furnished apartments with hardwood floors and appliances.

These pet-friendly apartments put residents right across from the National Mall and several other D.C. attractions. Newseum Residences feature large walk-in closets, in-unit laundry and access to an on-site sauna and 24-hour gym.

Luxury living just across the river from East Potomac Park. Upscale, brand-new homes with walk-in closets and stainless steel appliances. Stunning views of D.C. Community offers an on-site coffee bar, fire pit and pool.

Located in the heart of D.C. A short walk from Judiciary Square, Georgetown University Law Center and Union Station. Convenient to I-395. Pet-friendly, with dog park, parking, community garden and pool.

Located within historic Ivy City building. Apartments feature industrial finishes and exposed brick. Community amenities include a pool, business center and billiards table. Right by the National Arboretum, with easy access to New York Avenue.

Onyx on First featured distinguished stained concrete floors, granite counters, stainless steel appliances and washers and dryers in every unit. The building also offers a rooftop pool and underground parking.

Located just a short walk from Dupont Circle and Georgetown, these spacious apartments include modern kitchens with granite worktops and walk-in closets. The community includes a pool, a courtyard and its own dog park.

Open floor plans with designer fixtures, stainless steel appliances, views of the Anacostia River in some units. Pet-friendly, with smart-building technology. Minutes from Capitol Hill and Potomac Metro Transit Station.

Pet-friendly, fully furnished homes with granite counters, stainless steel appliances and a patio/balcony. Access to an on-site gym. Close to Rock Creek Park for a convenient natural getaway, and near the Takoma Park Library.

"Washington is a city of Southern efficiency and Northern charm." (-John F. Kennedy).

This used to be a sleepy Southern town. But over the past few decades, DC has mushroomed into a vast and heterogeneous rival to its many metropolitan neighbors on the eastern seaboard. Whether you’re in DC because you’re passionate about lobbying the next climate change bill or because you’re hoping to break the Guinness World Record for “Longest Period Spent Staring at Abraham Lincoln’s Kneecaps.” we hope you find what you’re looking for—housing-wise, of course—in the District.

Having trouble with Craigslist DC? Can't find that special apartment for rent on Apartment Finder or Apartment Guide? Apartment List is here to help!

Capitol City Specifics

The apartment market is fairly consistent in DC: there exists a set of criteria and stipulations that virtually every apartment manager and landlord will follow. Memorize these brief mnemonic tips to prevent an unhappy surprise.

Lease Me, Lease Me, Say That You’ll Lease Me:
No landlord worth trusting will go for less than a six month lease and a deposit of two-thirds rent. That said, most of the more upscale units should be fully furnished, so you can count on cutting some costs in your move.

Utilitarianism:
Most apartment contracts around the District don’t include utilities. If your college yearbook designated you “Frugal Freddy,” budget around $250/month for a 1BR/1BA. “Indulgent Ira” can expect to pay a bit more. Penny-pinch much? Consider a room in a house (or go in on a house with some friends)—there are lots of gems in DC that power-drunk Princeton grads don’t seek out because apartmenting is perceived as less stressful. Also if you want to save a few additional dollars on utilities forgo air conditioning, however many of the new apartments include central air conditioning at no additional charge.

Car Talk:
Parking in a secure garage or lot runs about $100-$200/month, if it’s an option at all. Street parking is slightly less expensive (you may obtain a Residential Parking Permit for only $15/year) if you’re a comfortable risk-taker. Though spaces are often hard to find: if you take this route, don’t plan on using your car much unless your favorite pastime is playing sardines amongst the library stacks… Also, if you have friends in Virginia or Maryland, you may want to register your car there: DC insurance is bound to be double what you’ll pay if you’re “parking” outside the Beltway.

OK Commuter:
If you plan to commute anywhere else in the city, study the transit map and live within a 15 minute walk of the station. Car commuters find the DC metro freeways a major headache, and if you’re working in Virginia you can bet on 45 minutes and a protracted morning bridge-cross. Parking in the DC area can be very limited so when signing a lease ensure that your apartment building offers either a parking garage or a dedicated parking space.

Milo & Otis:
As a kid, I loved watching this squatty pug and his best friend (a yellow tabby; who else?) meander through the Ohio countryside. Unfortunately, it seems DC planners and landlords weren’t so keen. Dogs are hard to keep due to the scarcity of dog parks, however many buildings offer on property dog parks and proivde specifically pet friendly apartments. Also, expect a flat fee (up to $300) and monthly pet rent (around $30/month). Be sure to ask your landlord or management company about size and breed restrictions—Otis usually passes; Butch, maybe not. Cats are almost always allowed, and usually more practical, but cats still incur the fees mentioned above.

Laundry Service: Hunt down the apartment buildings that offers in unit washer and dryer accessibility at either no extra charge or at no extra travel. If you’re not this lucky, budget around $10-15/month as well as the time needed to tote your dirties to the laundromat.

Presidential Neighborhoods

Neighborhoods are like presidents. Some are old, some new—and some are known only by their flaws. Pay due notice to what you’ve heard, but also try to explore new areas with an open mind. After all, you may find the next “diamond in the rough” by stumbling into some hip forest no one else can see for the trees.

John F. Kennedy: Mr. Popularity. We all want to be his friend. No one can recount any of the great stuff he accomplished (some influential speeches concerning civil rights?), but dang!—that man carried himself well. Elegantly manicured, Northwest DC is best described this way. Apartment-seekers flock left, right, and cross-ways to get in on the action. (Doesn’t help that it’s the largest quadrant…) The reality is that you can find most of the same amenities in a less inflated market elsewhere. Nevertheless, here’s the skinny on some of the most popular spots:

• Downtown Washington, DC borders some less fashionable but historic and ethnically diverse neighborhoods. If you can stand Convention Center parking headaches, you might find a 1BD/1BA for as little as $2100/month in Chinatown.

• Outside of Downtown, Dupont Circle and Foggy Bottom are where it’s at in NW. In Dupont, be prepared to pay an average of $2800-$3500/month for 2BD/2BA; you’ll be jumping for joy if you find a studio or 1BR/1BA for two-thirds of that figure. Foggy’s the choice for commuters to Downtown and Rosslyn, Va. Mind you, this is still an expensive area—studios under $1400 are unheard of. But you get what you pay for, that’s for sure.

• Everyone and their mom who can’t afford the above neighborhoods want to be in AdMo (insider slang for Adams Morgan). The upper range for studios is $2200/month; add $600/month for one bedroom / one bath units in this area.

• Georgetown’s aesthetic is impeccable, but don’t get your hopes up for living in a quaint two bedroom / one bath row house down a cobblestone lane unless you can drop $3150/month. Additionally, this area is fairly impractical: commuters to Virginia will need to walk across the Key Bridge to Rosslyn, and shopping around here may be described as exclusively boutique-y.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt: FDR is like the inverse of JFK. Visually boring, he set the Union on a trajectory toward modernism few would question. Everything east of N Capitol St. and north of E Capitol St. encapsulates this spirit. Classic as well as diverse, Northeast DC boasts a few gems you simply must consider:

• Capitol Hill isn’t just for politicians and lobbyists. (For one thing, the historic homes are too small for these jokers!) $1600/month for a 1BD/1BA near Eastern Market.

• Atlas District and Trinidad name two grimy (but equally hip) areas. The range around H St. is $900-$1200/month for 1BD/1BA and $1000-$1500/month for 2BD/1BA. Trinidad is the less expensiveof the two areas: just be careful where you land.

• Brookland/Catholic University of America is probably the most economical neighborhood in NE. You may feel marooned, but in all truth the Red Line in to Capitol Hill is 10 minutes max. One can usually find a 1BD/1BA for under $1000/month (under $1500/month for a second bedroom).

Grover Cleveland: Barely worth mention, the Southwest Waterfront is the smallest of DC’s quadrants. That’s not to say there aren’t some great apartments if you love that feeling of being stranded. (No Metro stops; but you could walk to Capitol Hill and Navy Yard if you absolutely had to.) Efficiency condos start at $1400/month and luxury 1BD/1BA average $1850/month. What, did you expect some fun facts about Cleveland’s tenure? There aren’t any.

James Polk: Plagued by controversy and overall messiness (need I mention the Trail of Tears?), Polk’s presidency was brief—but hugely influential. In other words, he’s the greatest president no one ever talks about. That’s Southeast DC. Folks who live here will regale its charms: Eastern Market, Anacostia Park, and on and on.

• Historically the industrial area, Navy Yard is currently enjoying revitalization along the lines of condos and high-rises. All this competition, though, doesn’t drive the price very low: look hard and you may find a 1BD for $1500/month or a 2BD for $2000/month.

• Anacostia is the Brooklyn of DC. It’s where those Navy Yard dockworkers went home to. $800/month is an average price for a 1BD/1BA; and it’s not unusual to find a 2BD unit for less than $1000/month.

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s segment of “Lives of the Presidents”… However, the best way to get a handle on these neighborhoods is to walk a mile in their shoes. Make a commitment to spending five consecutive hours in a few of these areas. Grab a meal, walk the streets (in daylight, please). Chances are, one of ‘em will charm you more than the others. Then simply choose your house and paint it white!

February 2019 Washington, DC Rent Report

Welcome to the February 2019 Washington, DC Rent Report. DC rents declined over the past month. In this report, we'll evaluate trends in the DC rental market, including comparisons to cities throughout the metro, state, and nation.

February 2019 Washington, DC Rent Report

Welcome to the February 2019 Washington, DC Rent Report. DC rents declined over the past month. In this report, we'll evaluate trends in the DC rental market, including comparisons to cities throughout the metro, state, and nation.

DC rents held steady over the past month

DC rents have remained flat over the past month, however, they are up moderately by 2.2% year-over-year. Currently, median rents in DC stand at $1,340 for a one-bedroom apartment and $1,550 for a two-bedroom. DC's year-over-year rent growth exceeds the national average of 1.0%.

Rents rising across the DC Metro

Throughout the past year, rent increases have been occurring not just in the city of DC, but across the entire metro. Of the largest 10 cities that we have data for in the DC metro, 9 of them have seen prices rise. Here's a look at how rents compare across some of the largest cities in the metro.

Rockville has seen the fastest rent growth in the metro, with a year-over-year increase of 5.5%. The median two-bedroom there costs $2,020, while one-bedrooms go for $1,750.

Over the past year, Waldorf is the only city in the metro that has seen rents fall, with a decline of 1.4%. Median two-bedrooms there cost $2,020, while one-bedrooms go for $1,750.

Bethesda has the most expensive rents of the largest cities in the DC metro, with a two-bedroom median of $2,430; rents fell 0.2% over the past month but rose 2.1% over the past year.

Frederick has the least expensive rents in the DC metro, with a two-bedroom median of $1,530; rents went down 0.4% over the past month but rose 4.8% over the past year.

Comparable cities nationwide show more affordable rents compared to DC

As rents have increased moderately in DC, a few other large cities nationwide have also seen rents grow modestly. Compared to most similar cities across the country, DC is less affordable for renters.

DC's median two-bedroom rent of $1,550 is above the national average of $1,170. Nationwide, rents have grown by 1.0% over the past year compared to the 2.2% rise in DC.

While DC's rents rose moderately over the past year, many cities nationwide also saw increases, including Austin (+3.3%), San Francisco (+2.7%), and Atlanta (+2.5%).

Renters will generally find more expensive prices in DC than most other large cities. For example, Philadelphia has a median 2BR rent of $1,170.

For more information check out our national report. You can also access our full data for cities and counties across the U.S. at this link.

City

Median 1BR price

Median 2BR price

M/M price change

Y/Y price change

Washington, DC

$1,340

$1,550

-0.1%

2.2%

Arlington

$1,780

$2,060

-0.7%

4.2%

Alexandria

$1,590

$1,830

-0.2%

3.2%

Germantown

$1,700

$1,960

-0.3%

3.9%

Silver Spring

$1,520

$1,750

0.7%

1.3%

Centreville

$1,620

$1,870

0.5%

2.7%

Waldorf

$1,750

$2,020

-0.4%

-1.4%

Frederick

$1,320

$1,530

-0.4%

4.8%

Rockville

$1,750

$2,020

1%

5.5%

Bethesda

$2,100

$2,430

-0.2%

2.1%

Gaithersburg

$1,530

$1,770

0.3%

3.9%

Reston

$1,610

$1,860

-0.1%

-0.1%

Bowie

$2,110

$2,440

-0.4%

3.4%

Ashburn

$1,970

$2,270

-0.8%

5.6%

Leesburg

$1,740

$2,000

-0.4%

2.1%

Manassas

$1,510

$1,740

0.6%

3.8%

Oakton

$1,880

$2,170

0.6%

0.7%

Montgomery Village

$1,580

$1,830

-0.2%

1.4%

College Park

$1,560

$1,800

-0.1%

1.4%

Suitland

$1,330

$1,540

0.7%

3.3%

Laurel

$1,360

$1,610

0.5%

3.2%

Fredericksburg

$1,440

$1,660

0.3%

2.7%

Herndon

$1,900

$2,200

0.2%

0.4%

Fairfax

$1,870

$2,160

-0.9%

3.4%

Hyattsville

$1,300

$1,500

-0.2%

1.9%

Falls Church

$1,440

$1,670

-1.2%

-1%

Gainesville

$2,050

$2,370

-1.1%

-0.1%

Temple Hills

$1,250

$1,450

1%

4.6%

See More

Methodology - Recent Updates:

Data from private listing sites, including our own, tends to skew toward luxury apartments, which introduces sample bias when estimates are calculated directly from these listings. To address these limitations, we’ve recently made major updates to our methodology, which we believe have greatly improved the accuracy and reliability of our estimates.

Read more about our new methodology below, or see a more detailed post here.

Methodology:

Apartment List is committed to making our rent estimates the best and most accurate available. To do this, we start with reliable median rent statistics from the Census Bureau, then extrapolate them forward to the current month using a growth rate calculated from our listing data. In doing so, we use a same-unit analysis similar to Case-Shiller’s approach, comparing only units that are available across both time periods to provide an accurate picture of rent growth in cities across the country.

Our approach corrects for the sample bias inherent in other private sources, producing results that are much closer to statistics published by the Census Bureau and HUD. Our methodology also allows us to construct a picture of rent growth over an extended period of time, with estimates that are updated each month.

About Rent Reports:

Apartment List publishes monthly reports on rental trends for hundreds of cities across the U.S. We intend these reports to be a source of reliable information that help renters and policymakers make sound decisions, and we invest significant time and effort in gathering and analyzing rent data. Our work is covered regularly by journalists across the country.

We are continuously working to improve our methodology and data, with the goal of providing renters with the information that they need to make the best decisions.

Renter Confidence Survey

Apartment List has released Washington, DC’s results from the third annual Apartment List Renter Satisfaction Survey. This survey, which drew on responses from over 45,000 renters, provides insight on what states and cities must do to meet the needs of 111 million American renters nationwide.

"Washington, DC renters expressed general satisfaction with the city overall," according to Apart...

Apartment List has released Washington, DC’s results from the third annual Apartment List Renter Satisfaction Survey. This survey, which drew on responses from over 45,000 renters, provides insight on what states and cities must do to meet the needs of 111 million American renters nationwide.

"Washington, DC renters expressed general satisfaction with the city overall," according to Apartment List. "However, ratings varied greatly across different categories, indicating that even though renters love Washington, DC, some aspects can be better."

Key findings in Washington, DC include the following:

Washington, DC renters gave their city an A- overall.

The highest-rated categories for Washington, DC were jobs and career opportunities and public transit, which both received A+ grades.

The areas of concern to Washington, DC renters are affordability (D) and state and local taxes (C).

Millennial renters are very satisfied with their city, giving it an overall rating of A.

Washington, DC did relatively well compared to other cities nationwide, including New York, NY (C+), Los Angeles (C+) and Chicago, IL (B-).